Dear Fellow Mountain Bikers;

Southwest KyMBA has some great news to share. I have pasted a section of our recent Meeting Minutes and trail news regarding a few cool updates in our region. I wanted to share in order to keep everyone in the loop & to advise what’s brewing in our region & slice of IMBA Pie. If your not already an active SW KyMBA member please join us as we make our Biking Destination Dream a Reality. These are the times for Mountain Bike Passion.

Happy Trails,

Chip Winger

1) Big Hollow Update– Meeting with Mammoth Cave National Park Superintendent Sara Craighead and Deputy Super Bruce Powell et al.

Chip, Johnny and Andy discussed their meeting with MCNP involving SW KyMBA PowerPoint presentation of who we are and what we can do for MCNP. Sara & all MCNP attendee’s were very supportive of our organization and wish to move forward on a new MOU. They reiterated if it wasn’t for our chapter’s reputation and past involvement the trail would never have been approved internally. Big Hollow Trail Construction begins June 1, 2013 and is to be built by one or several PTBA contractors in order to complete by Aug 31, 2013. The new trail will include an expansion of Maple Spring’s parking lot as well as a Multiuse connector trail. IMBA is planning a large ribbon cutting event for the grand opening.

2) Park Mammoth Update – Meeting with Nick & Nate Noble

Fritz, Johnny, Andy and Chip discussed the meeting they had with the owners of Park Mammoth. The owners were very interested in a future partnership to provide specialized gravity & technical trails, cyclo-cross races and other Bike events which includes a nice big possibility of the first MTB trail through a cave on their 2200 acre property. They would like to pursue a formalized MTB ride on May 11, 2013 or beyond if time constrained. This event would help to gauge interest and rider familiarization by riding some of their existing fire roads and former GNCC MotorX trails. Further updates TBA. Park Mammoth has a hotel, restaurant and bar on the property. They were also very interested in our grand plan of connecting their future trail system to the Hike and Bike Trail and Mammoth Cave> on to Big Hollow > on to Brier Creek for a MTB Destination.

3) Brier Creek Update –

Deryck and Chip discussed the Completion of Omega Loop, the Status of Beginner Connector Trail (on hold until Frankfort approval, Tammy will provide notice of approval). The Down Hill Run with possible multiple routes off Omega Hill was given a green light to proceed. First phase will be to mark desired features for the run or runs followed by best routes to features… Sponsorship is underway to gain enough funding to hire Spectrum Trail Design to come in and build the Point Loop Trail… USACE is paying 2K for trail/skidsteer work. Steven P will attend Friends of Nolin to pursue 1.5K.. USACE is very interested in connecting Brier Creek to Mammoth Cave by Greenway to tie in with Big Hollow and Park Mammoth scheme. Deryck is working with NP Greenway Master Planner for feasibility and route study/planning for the project. 

New Update 2/21/13: Deryck, Dan, Steve and Chip met with Alex Stewart to hike Brier Creek and come up with a plan to build the Point Loop Trail. After seeing the excitement in Alex’s demeanor when he saw the land to work with on the West side of Omega Hill the plan to hire Alex for Point Loop changed. Now currently Alex Stewart will be hired to build 2-3 expansion Trails off Omega Hill. These will be Gravity/DH/Flow Trails arranging from Intermediate to Advanced while SW KyMBA will focus on building the Point Loop Trails. The Point Loop Trail will utilize three 4 ft by 12 ft Docks to enable the water crossing as ride able. Im stoked.

4) Ben Hawes Update – Still Closed (HOWEVER)

A New Agreed upon MOU was signed with the City of Owensboro and SW KyMBA. The Trail will re-open soon..  Here is a excerpt of the news from Nick:

The Owensboro City Commissioners and Mayor agreed on the new Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between SW KYMBA and the city tonight. This was our last major hurdle to get the trail back open at Ben Hawes. This also includes not only trail work rights but also allows the group to host a night ride one night a week after park hours. Only some insurance reviewing and a few signatures left as of now to get Ben Hawes open. After the vote the mayor said this was a great thing for both agencies.

 Here’s some important links to keep you connected, join us as we pedel into tomorrow where there will be a bunch more cool trail.

SW KyMBA Website: www.kymba.org/bowlinggreen

Southwest KyMBA Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/BGKYMBA

Southwest KyMBA Meetup: http://www.meetup.com/Southwest-KyMBA/

SW KyMBA/IMBA Membership: https://www.imba.com/civicrm/contribute/transact?reset=1&id=212